John J. Crowley (December 8, 1891 - March 17, 1940), often referred to as the Desert Padre, was an early 20th century Catholic priest in California's large but sparsely populated Eastern Sierra.

He is remembered [1] for his prodigious efforts to help improve the economic well-being of all Eastern Sierra residents (not just the Catholics, of whom there were about 600) whose lives had been adversely affected by the diversion of water from the Owens Valley to the rapidly growing but water-deficient Los Angeles area (see: California water wars) Crowley was a native of 12 New Street,[2] Killarney,[3] Co. Kerry, Ireland who came to Worcester, Massachusetts, with his family when he was 11 years old.

[1] He served for about a year in the Los Angeles area, then volunteered (and was subsequently appointed) to be the lone priest for the Eastern Sierra.

In 1940 he died in an automobile accident on the highway now known as California State Route 14, when he hit a wandering cow and was deflected head on into an oncoming truck.

Nature lovers, campers, hikers, and sport fisher persons were addressed and stars in the many movies filmed in the area[5] were engaged.